Blog: LAVote on Twitter, Praying Mantis, Voting Discounts, Campaign Caps at Polling Station

1. ABC-7 listed a slew of businesses with incentives on election day, see my photo.  Clearly it seems innocent except not in a Presidential election.  Voting-related giveaways clash with federal law.  So while ABC7 shows the discounts available as Election Day promos they are not tied to voting.  In fact Politico explains it as:

In elections in which federal candidates are on the ballot, no one can offer any kind of benefit or reward for voting. The simple way to deal with this is to open up the event to all comers — voters and nonvoters alike," law professor and election law expert Rick Hasen told POLITICO in 2010.

2. I voted this morning at 9:30ish but the list of eligble voters was not posted.  This list is posted so representatives of the parties can call (in compliance with the 100ft rule) citizens to remind them to vote (like anyone needs a reminder this year) or inquire if a ride is needed or babysitter etc.  I thought, maybe it's too early, so upon looking at the LAVote.net website I noticed they were posting answers to election/voting questions.  So I as asked and within an hour received an answer.  The list is supposed to be posted.

I took a  picture (see pic)) of my ballot, using a cell phone.  Interestingly enough this question was posted on the LAvote.net twitter site.  There is no law invalidating a ballot which has been photographed and posted online.

27% turnout at 12:20 in Los Angeles!   lacountyrrcc Voter turnout is 27.71% as of 12 noon. #lavotes The percentage is based on a sampling of pre-selected precincts throughout LA County.  This from the LA Voter Registration twitter.  That is more than the primary at the close of the day. 

3.  The big chad disturbance in Florida during the 2000 Presidential election is seared in people's memories as evidence of voting "fraud" aka lawyer up.  So news reports detail how the lawyers are hovering over multiple "swing state" voting stations.  Ironically the most under-reported disgrace of the 2000 Florida election was the wholesale directive to seniors in resident homes "vote for candidate #x" on the ballot. What they did not factor in was the rotation of the ballot position for the candidates.  So candidate #x turned out to be different in various precincts and the gain for Gore was given to Buchanan.   So I represent my ballot to you - I took a pic - but don't take the numbers as a directive to vote identically.   I will tell you I didn't vote for either 30th district Congressional candidate - their antics and tactics were deplorable. And of course I want Kolski, Emken, and Zink. 

4.   It's very disturbing to hear that at the polling place an worker is wearing a cap indicative of the candidate.  Surely that cap will not make a person vote based on the issues - then why wear such a cap?  Either bullying for any member of the community to vote against the stream or self-imposed disregard for the law or trying to let voters know the votes were being watched. What a shame in 2012 to still have such tactics.........and in the Presidents' district too. (see pic)  http://m.weeklystandard.com/blogs/election-judge-wears-obama-cap-while-checking-voters-obamas-chicago-ward_661843.html

5. Earlier this morning I walked the dogs and found this beacon of direction for the day.   A praying mantis on a lampost.  (see pic)  I found it very indicative of the best answer on this decisive day. Reflecting on Samuel Adams sentiments: "Let each citizen remember that at the time he is offering his vote that he is ... offering one of the most solemn trusts in society for which he is accountable to God and his country"